Not eating enough?

[luvbug237]

I wanted to see how many crickets some of your chams were eating on a daily basis. I swear I haven't put new crickets in the cage for 2 or 3 days now and there is still 3-5 always lurking around. I usually only put in 4 or 5 at a time... it just doesn't seem like he eats enough?? I feed him 3/4 size and my crickets are "gutload" with flunkers and sesame seed.

I fed him a silkworm for the first time last week and he ate out of my hand (pretty quickly) the first time. He also ate the other two I gave him in a matter of minutes of me putting them on a leaf near him. I gave him one each day.

Does he not like crickets? I don't want to put him on a worm diet as I've heard that isn't good. I've attached two pictures of him I JUST took for this post. He was curled up in his corner he likes to nap in. Sorry for the screen one. Does he look skinny, unhealthy? He take poops, I've cleaned many up.

This link is the website of where I currently buy my crickets and the silkworms last week. not many places here in Alaska to find food other than the big stores. I have tried dubai cockroaches before. I bought two of them and found both, dead at the bottom of the cage so I didn't buy those again. Maybe another; better choice? http://alaskacricketranch.com/

He is a Jacksons about a year old. I've had him for about six. I got him from Petco.

 

[Djturna4thakidz]

Sometimes they get fixated on a specific feeder. My panther loved crickets. I offered him a super and then he hated crickets. After a while he didn't like supers too much either. He didn't eat for a week and then ate both. They are strange creatures. Don't take it to heart or loose sleep. They sometimes go on hunger strikes and they can go long periods of time without food but in the end most will eat. Just keep an eye on him and don't offer food everyday and I bet he comes around

 

[Zero84]

eating

Don't worry to much. They really can go awhile with out eating or eating feeders in numbers. I know this because my panther does not eat like crazy. I wish he would but he constantly goes up and down in the amount of feeders he will eat. I think the most important thing to do is offer food at least every two days or so and make sure your cham is well hydrated. I give mine a shower every three to four days. I put a plant in the shower on warm and let the water bounce of the shower wall onto the plant and the cham. He will sit in there for an hour or more just chillin and drinking.

 

[dom1959]

another point would be, jacksons like it cooler.
my veiled eats way more than my jax.
it worried me for a while but then i thought about it,
veiled cage is 86 degrees in hot spot jax is 81.
some days my jax eats 2-3 1/4 -1/2 dubia. today he ate 7 so far.
as long as he is active and hydrated i wouldn't worry too much.
(we all worry, that's just what we do)
and i know with mature veileds you can feed every other day,
maybe a more experienced jax keeper can opine on feeding a year old jax every other day.

 

[dom1959]

btw thanks for having pics!
i love your horns baby!

 

[camimom]

Jacksons are known for not eating as mcuh as veileds and panthers do.

 

[Juniper9x]

Hi there, I am a new Veiled Chameleon owner & also new to the forums. I was intrested about how you give you cham a shower. I am little worried about my little guy. I basically inherited him in a very very small nano tank. I got him last week and went right online and ordered everything to make proper housing for him. he seemed to love it but he's been shedding and has gotten quite brown and SUPER cranky. He doesn't seem to be eating much either. I read they don't like being misted so I avoid that cause he hisses at me when I mist the cage. I still mist the cage with warm water through out the day. Should I try the shower? Will that help him shed or make him feel a bit better? I am so nervous and just want him to be happy. He's 6-7month old male. He snaps at me if I try to take him out but once he is on me he warms right up and snuggles in my neck and hair and goes to sleep. Is all this normal? Any info would help. Thanxs, Juniper

 

[jshaffer740]

Hi there, I am a new Veiled Chameleon owner & also new to the forums. I was intrested about how you give you cham a shower. I am little worried about my little guy. I basically inherited him in a very very small nano tank. I got him last week and went right online and ordered everything to make proper housing for him. he seemed to love it but he's been shedding and has gotten quite brown and SUPER cranky. He doesn't seem to be eating much either. I read they don't like being misted so I avoid that cause he hisses at me when I mist the cage. I still mist the cage with warm water through out the day. Should I try the shower? Will that help him shed or make him feel a bit better? I am so nervous and just want him to be happy. He's 6-7month old male. He snaps at me if I try to take him out but once he is on me he warms right up and snuggles in my neck and hair and goes to sleep. Is all this normal? Any info would help. Thanxs, Juniper

If I were you I would give him a week or two to simply adjust to the new surroundings and limit any handling of him during that time. You want to minimize stress during this period. As far as a shower goes, you basically put the cham on a plant in the shower, and point the shower head towards the wall. You only want the cham to be hit with a mist from the splashing of the water against the wall - not directly hit by the shower. Also, make sure the water is just at a room temperature, not hot. Also, I would probably only do this if you start seeing signs of dehydration. From what I have read and seen, this can be a stressful experience for chameleons, and is probably only best used if necessary.

For both of your questions above, you may get more and more appropriate responses if you post a new thread with your questions and concerns. Also, makes sure you post all details about your setup and chameleon when you do post a new thread - it will help others answer your questions.

Thanks!

 

[sandrachameleon]

Jacks do eat less than panthers or veileds. Is he maintaining his weight? Does he drink well and frequently?
Your gutloading could use improvement.
Its good you are trying to offer some variety beyond crickets - no one feeder should form more than 40% of the animals diet.
Are you saying he sleeps (naps) during daylight hours?